The first of THREE Bloodraven episodes and part 7 of our Blackfyre Rebellions series. This one covers the time from his birth until the death of King Daeron II.

Six years ago in King’s Landing, Dunk had seen him with his own two eyes, as he rode a pale horse up the Street of Steel with fifty Raven’s Teeth behind him. That was before King Aerys had ascended to the Iron Throne and made him the Hand, but even so he cut a striking figure, garbed in smoke and scarlet with Dark Sister on his hip. His pallid skin and bone-white hair made him look a living corpse. Across his cheek and chin spread a wine-stain birthmark that was supposed to resemble a red raven, though Dunk only saw an odd-shaped blotch of discolored skin. He stared so hard that Bloodraven felt it. The king’s sorcerer had turned to study him as he went by. He had one eye, and that one red. The other was an empty socket, the gift Bittersteel had given him upon the Redgrass Field. Yet it seemed to Dunk that both eyes had looked right through his skin, down to his very soul. Despite the heat, the memory made him shiver. – The Sworn Sword

Steven Attewell of Race for the Iron Throne returns, we discuss the 3rd and 4th Blackfyre Rebellions, the Golden Company, and a lot more Bittersteel.

Credits
Our introduction, the Essos map, and the Bittersteel and Golden Company images were created by Michael Klarfeld (Klaradox), with the cyvasse pieces created by dutchmogul. Check out the episode on YouTube or the Acast player below to see those images, as well as art by Ed Scheer.

The primary topics in this episode:

Part 1 – The Life of an Exile
Part 2 – The Blackfyre Dynasty ~212
Part 3 – The Golden Company
Part 4 – Third Blackfyre Rebellion
Part 5 – Fourth Blackfyre Rebellion
Part 6 – Bittersteel: Death & Legacy
Part 7 – The Golden Company Then & Now
Outro

“At first the magisters and archons and merchant princes were pleased to welcome the last Targaryens Blackfyres to their homes and tables, but as the years passed and the Usurper Falseborn continued to sit upon the Iron Throne, doors closed and their lives grew meaner. Years past they had been forced to sell their last few treasures, and now even the coin they had gotten from Mother’s crown had gone. In the alleys and wine sinks of Pentos Tyrosh, they called her brother “the beggar king.” Dany Calla did not want to know what they called her.” – AGOT, Daenerys I

My mother was a lady of Tyrosh. I dye my hair in memory of her.” – ADWD, Tyrion III

“He has been trained in arms, as befits a knight to be, but that was not the end of his education. He reads and writes, he speaks several tongues, he has studied history and law and poetry. A septa has instructed him in the mysteries of the Faith since he was old enough to understand them.” – ADWD, Epilogue

“Bittersteel gathered exiled lords and knights, and their descendants, to him. He formed the Golden Company in 212 AC, and soon established it as the foremost free company of the Disputed Lands. “Beneath the gold, the bitter steel” became their battle cry, renowned across Essos.” – TWOIAF

“Bittersteel saw the strength of House Blackfyre scattering to the four winds, so he formed the Golden Company to bind the exiles together.” – TWOIAF

“Ser Aegor Rivers was sixty-nine years of age when he fell, and it is said he died as he had lived, with a sword in his hand and a curse upon his lips. Yet his legacy would live on in the Golden Company and the Blackfyre line he had served and protected.” – TWOIAF

The Blackfyre series returns! This time: the life of Aegor Rivers, aka Bittersteel. Aziz also does a Grandpa Simpson impression. Our new introduction, animations, and the Bittersteel sigil were created by Michael Klarfeld (Klaradox), with the cyvasse pieces created by dutchmogul. Check out the episode on YouTube or the Acast player below to see those images, as well as art by Mike Hallstein and Ed Scheer.

The primary topics in this episode:

Part 1 – Early Life (172 – 184)

Part 2 – The Great Bastards at Court (184 – 196)

Part 3 – Becoming Bittersteel

Part 4 – At Last, Rebellion (196)

Part 5 – Exile to Essos (197 – 211)

Part 6 – The Second Blackfyre “Rebellion” (211)

Outro

“Younger than Daemon Blackfyre, older than Bloodraven. Bittersteel was also a warrior, and looked the part. He was only half Targaryen, so he got the purple eyes, but his hair was black. As an adult he wore a beard, cropped very short, little more than a shadow on his face and jaws. Somewhat of a Conanesque look to him, but not the Frank Frazetta Conan and definitely not the Arnold Conan, more the Barry Windsor-Smith version, or the one described by REH (Robert E. Howard)– he is tall and well made, but lean and lithe as a panther. And angry. No smiles here. Bittersteel was pissed off all his life, and had a special loathing for Bloodraven and his mother, who had displayed his own mother as the king’s favorite.”

Serenei was the most beautiful of Aegon’s mistresses, but she was also reputed to be a sorceress. She died giving birth to the last of the king’s bastard children, a girl called Shiera Seastar who became the greatest beauty in the Seven Kingdoms, beloved of both her half brothers, Bittersteel and Bloodraven, whose rivalry would ripen to hatred.

“I should have gone with Bittersteel into exile, or died beside my sons and my sweet king. That would have been a death worthy of a chequy lion descended from so many proud lords and mighty warriors. Daeron’s mercy made me smaller.”

“I wept when Bittersteel carried him off to exile, and again when Lord Peake told me he was coming home.”

“His armor is well-made but plain, no nonsense grey-steel and black rings. His helm bears a horsehead crest with a horse’s mane flowing down behind.”

“His shield has a grey longsword displayed bendy sinister, with a black dragon’s head above and a red horse’s head below, both facing out. The field is white.”

Aziz is joined by guests Steven Attewell (Race for the Iron Throne) and Jim McGeehin (Wars and Politics of Ice and Fire) to recap and explain one of the largest battles in the history of Westeros: the battle of Redgrass Field. The Red Dragon vs. The Black Dragon, winner takes the Iron Throne.

The primary topics in this episode:

My Kingdom For An Arrest

Red or Black: Recruitment, Propaganda & Ambition

The Battles before Redgrass

The Day the Grass Bled

“I will never forget the way the sun looked when it set upon the Redgrass Field…ten thousand men had died, and the air was thick with moans and lamentations, but above us the sky turned gold and red and orange, so beautifully it made me weep to know that my sons would never see it.” He sighed. “It was a closer thing than they would have you believe, these days. If not for Bloodraven…”

“…many battles were fought between the black and red dragons in the Vale, the westerlands, the riverlands, and elsewhere.”

“Ten thousand men had died for Daemon Blackfyre’s vanity, and many more were wounded and maimed. King Daeron’s efforts at peace had been shattered, through no fault of his own save perhaps too much mercy for his envious half brother.”

“Red or black? was a dangerous question, even now. Since the days of Aegon the Conquerer, the arms of House Targaryen had borne a three-headed dragon, red on black. Daemon the Pretender had reversed those colors on his own banners, as many bastards did.”

“Old fools and young malcontents still make pilgrimages to the Redgrass Field to plant flowers on the spot where Daemon Blackfyre fell.”

“It would suit Lord Bloodraven if their names were all forgotten, so he has forbidden us to sing of them, but I remember. Robb Reyne, Gareth the Grey, Ser Aubrey Ambrose, Lord Gormon Peake, Black Byren Flowers, Redtusk, Fireball . . . Bittersteel! I ask you, has there ever been such a noble company, such a roll of heroes?”

Daemon was the Warrior himself that day. No man could stand before him. He broke Lord Arryn’s van to pieces and slew the Knight of Ninestars and Wild Wyl Waynwood before coming up against Ser Gwayne Corbray of the Kingsguard. For near an hour they danced together on their horses, wheeling and circling and slashing as men died all around them. It’s said that whenever Blackfyre and Lady Forlorn clashed, you could hear the sound for a league around. It was half a song and half a scream, they say. But when at last the Lady faltered, Blackfyre clove through Ser Gwayne’s helm and left him blind and bleeding.”

“So close a thing . . . if Daemon had ridden over Gwayne Corbray and left him to his fate, he might have broken Maekar’s left before Bloodraven could take the ridge. The day would have belonged to the black dragons then, with the Hand slain and the road to King’s Landing open before them. Daemon might have been sitting on the Iron Throne by the time Prince Baelor could come up with his stormlords and his Dornishmen.”

“There was much and more afterward, I know. I saw a bit of it myself . . . the rebels running, Bittersteel turning the rout and leading his mad charge . . . his battle with Bloodraven, second only to the one Daemon fought with Gwayne Corbray . . . Prince Baelor’s hammerblow against the rebel rear, the Dornishmen all screaming as they filled the air with spears . . . but at the end of the day, it made no matter. The war was done when Daemon died.”

“Some have written of the boldness of the men who fought with Daemon, and others of their treason. But for all their valor in the field and their enmity against Daeron, theirs was a lost cause. Daemon and his eldest sons, Aegon and Aemon, were brought down beneath the withering fall of arrows sent by Brynden Rivers and his private guards, the Raven’s Teeth. This was followed by Bittersteel’s mad charge, with Blackfyre in his hand, as he attempted to rally Daemon’s forces. Meeting with Bloodraven in the midst of the charge, a mighty duel ensued, which left Bloodraven blinded in one eye and sent Bittersteel fleeing.”

“Red or black?” was a dangerous question, even now. Since the days of Aegon the Conquerer, the arms of House Targaryen had borne a three-headed dragon, red on black. Daemon the Pretender had reversed those colors on his own banners, as many bastards did. – The Sworn Sword

Which houses fought for which side during the First Blackfyre Rebellion? Red dragon or black?

Though the war engulfed much of the Seven Kingdoms, we are left guessing as to who fought for whom in many cases. We’ve hunted for every last clue we could, inferred, deduced… and when we had no better option, we made educated guesses. So many of these should not be taken as certain. An unusually pious, honorable, greedy or ambitious Lord could easily change the scope of our guess, so keep that in mind.

Thanks to Jim McGeehin (SomethingLikeALawyer from the Wars & Politics of Ice and Fire) Steven Attewell (Race for the Iron Throne) and Rhaenys Targaryen (top ASOIAF Wiki contributor & Queen of Timelines). This post is intended as a companion piece for our Blackfyre Rebellions coverage, most notably “The Battle of Redgrass Field” which was released on October 31st, 2015.

We’ll go through this region by region. If you don’t see your favorite house listed, let us know and we’ll add it!

First off, the North and the Iron Islands seemed to have not been involved at all. The Redgrass field episode will go into greater detail as to why…

The Vale

For King Daeron II Targaryen:

Arryn

Templeton

Waynwood

Corbray

These banners were all seen at the Redgrass Field, save Corbray. Lord Donnel Arryn led the vanguard. Ser Gwayne Corbray of the Kingsguard fought an epic duel with Daemon Blackfyre himself, making it highly likely the Corbrays in general stayed loyal.

For Daemon Blackfyre:

Sunderland

Royce?

There is no hard evidence suggesting House Royce fought for Daemon Blackfyre. Their house has a history of stubborn loyalty, which is possible strike against this idea. However, we know there was hard fighting in the Vale, yet so many of the major houses are named and none are Rebels. It is hard to imagine the Sunderlands (and the Three Sisters) being such a major problem on their own. The Three Sisters are islands, but not wealthy or populous. There had to be someone powerful in the Vale fighting for the Black Dragon. The bronze-armored Royces (as you’ll see in an upcoming episode on them) like tradition and the old way of doing things. King Daeron the Good represented change.

Since House Royce has had major issues with House Arryn in the past, and are proud and ancient besides, perhaps they saw a chance to topple House Arryn from the top spot and become Lords Paramount of the Vale. It could be seen as finally taking revenge on the House that removed them from the top spot in the Vale so long ago. The House that took their ancient bronze crown for good and all.

Notable Unknown:

Belmore

Grafton (Gulltown)

Arryn of Gulltown

Hardyng

Hunter

Redfort

The Redforts, also proud of their First Men heritage, have close ties & proximity to the Royces, it’s not unlikely the fought on the same side. The Arryns of Gulltown may have sought an opportunity to supplant the Lordly Arryns of the Eyrie, or supported their cousins honorably.

The Westerlands

For King Daeron II Targaryen:

Lannister

Brax

Kyndall

Lefford

Plumm

Lord Damon Lannister, the Grey Lion, is specifically mentioned as a loyalist. His wife was a lady of House Brax, and his son and heir’s wife was married to a lady of House Kyndall, so both are presumed loyalists. Princess Elaena Targaryen’s marriage to Ossifer Plumm, though short lived, may indicate loyalist leanings.

For Daemon Blackfyre:

Reyne

Crakehall

The famous knight Ser Robb Reyne fought for Daemon Blackfyre. It’s possible House Reyne was divided, but we prefer to guess that they were fully Black. Likewise, the famous knight Redtusk fought for Daemon. There are very few houses in Westeros that feature an animal with a tusk. The boar of Crakehall is the most notable. That Daemon had major support in the West helps back this theory.

Fought on both sides:

Tarbeck

Not unlike the Swanns in the War of Five Kings, or the Hightowers in… well, several wars, House Tarbeck sent men to fight for both the Red and Black Dragon.

Notable Unknown:

Marbrand

Greenfield

Farman

Payne

Prester

Sarsfield

Swyft

Westerling

The Westerlings used to be powerful and highly-regarded. So much so that King Maegor took a certain Jeyne Westerling to wife. That didn’t go so great for Jeyne, and as we know from Robb Stark’s experience, the Westerlings are now poor. The Red Wedding was a way for them to climb back up the ladder. But what caused them to be destitute in the first place? Perhaps they fought on the wrong side of a major rebellion and were punished for it afterwards. It probably wasn’t Robert’s Rebellion, since Tywin sat on the sidelines. So *obviously* it is Daemon Blackfyre’s fault that the Red Wedding happened. House Marbrand’s close ties to House Lannister (and proximity) makes them highly likely to be loyalist. House Farman, which sits on an island, could’ve remained neutral, especially if they feared what the nearby Ironborn might do during the chaos.

The Riverlands

For King Daeron II Targaryen:

Tully

Blackwood

Smallwood

For Daemon Blackfyre:

Bracken

Shawney

Nayland

Heddle

Paege

Frey

House Bracken is Bittersteel’s house, and we know that Lord Bracken went overseas to hire sellswords for Daemon. Masha Heddle ran the Inn at the Crossroads, where Catelyn Stark had Tyrion arrested… and Black Tom Heddle is her ancestor. Black Tom was a Blackfyre supporter, and one wonders if the Heddles had land and title that was taken from them after being on the wrong side of the First rebellion.

It’s easy to miss that Lord Walder Frey was born before the Second Blackfyre Rebellion, which saw his father join only to back out just before things got nasty. Perhaps this is where Lord Walder eventually learned to delay supporting a side until seeing who is going to win. It is not known if the Freys played a role in the First Rebellion, but their presence in the Second might be a clue. Nayland and Paege are similar cases.

Also:

Butterwell

Lothston

Lord Butterwell was Hand of the King to Daeron II and did such a poor job at managing the rebellion that he was fired and accused of sympathizing with Daemon.

Lord Manfred Lothston, aka Manfred of the Black Hood, betrayed Daemon in some unknown fashion. He may have been expected to use his men to delay the Vale army that eventually got in Daemon’s way as his host headed for King’s Landing. Interestingly, Manfred himself may have been another bastard of King Aegon IV.

Notable Unknown:

Mallister

Vance

Darry

Mooton

Piper

As owners of a decent sized port, House Mooton of Maidenpool would be valuable to both sides, but particularly Daemon as he had less presence on the east coast. But we have no clue which side they took, if any.

House Darry is noted for it’s staunch loyalty to the Targaryens over the years, so we would guess they fought for Daeron II.

Stormlands

For King Daeron II:

Penrose

Dondarrion

Wylde

Prince Aerys (later King Aerys I) was brother to King Daeron II, was married to Aelinor Penrose (a cousin). The sons of Lady Penrose, save one, were slain by Fireball during the crossing of the Mander.

House Dondarrion, as a marcher house, would be expected to fight for Daemon Blackfyre. But Daeron II foresaw this danger long in advance and wedded his heir Baelor Breakspear to Lady Jena Dondarrion, assuring their loyalty.

House Wylde had a knight named Ser William in King Daeron’s Kingsguard either before or after the war. In any case, it’s unlikely a house that fought for the Blackfyres would be admitted to the Kingsguard, so we can be confident they were loyalists.

For Daemon Blackfyre:

Caron

Selmy

Swann

These three are the principle Marcher Houses in the Stormlands (save the Dondarrions). These are houses that have long standing hatred of the Dornish, and would despise their high place in the royal family. It is likely that they declared for Daemon Blackfyre, but by the time of the Redgrass Field, Baelor had won over the Stormlands entirely, or almost entirely. Thus, either the Marcher lords stood largely alone, or perhaps one or two of them did not fight for Daemon after all.

Notable Unknown:

Baratheon

Tarth

Estermont

Morrigen

Connington

No Great Houses fought for Daemon Blackfyre, so the Baratheons were likely to be loyal or neutral. Others would have followed their lead for the most part, but there would’ve likely be an exception or two.

Dorne

For King Daeron II:

Martell

Dayne

Manwoody

The Martells were part of the Royal Family, Daeron II’s wife was Princess Mariah Martell. Prince Maekar, “the Anvil” was likewise married to Dyanna Dayne. Princess Elaena Targaryen’s 3rd husband, and most beloved, was Ser Michael Manwoody. This makes it likely that House Manwoody was on good terms with the Targaryens after the war, so we assume they were loyalists.

For Daemon Blackfyre:

Yronwood

Wyl

House Yronwood was said to “ride with Bittersteel in 3 of the Rebellions”. It is confirmed that they were not in the 2nd, and Bittersteel was not in the 5th. That leaves the 1st, 3rd and 4th. They were the primary House in all of Dorne until the coming of Nymeria, and the titles the Lords of Yronwood take reflect this ancient pride. They would’ve loved to take back Dorne from the Martells.

House Wyl is a notorious house and vassal to the Yronwoods. This is the same House that cut the hand off Orys Baratheon, hung Prince Aemon the Dragonknight in a pit above vipers, and taunted King Baelor as he walked past. They were likely involved in treachery that slew King Daeron I the Young Dragon. Given all this enmity with House Targaryen and the attitude of their overlords the Yronwoods, it’s a safe bet that there were not loyalists.

Notable Unknown

Fowler

Blackmont

Uller

Santagar

Jordayne

Gargalen

Vaith

The Fowlers hate the Yronwoods, who fought for Daemon, but they also hate the Tarlys who probably fought for Daemon. The Houses farther from Sunspear would be among the more likely to dislike the Martells, while a house like Santagar, close by (and vassals of), would likely stay loyal.

The Reach

For King Daeron II:

Caswell

Webber

Tyrell

Rowan

Ashford

Interestingly, House Caswell seems to have been loyal in the First Rebellion, only to harbor Blackfyre sympathies during the Second. The reasons for this are unknown.

Refer to the podcast episode for our thoughts on House Tyrell. Steven Attewell has a great theory on how Leo “Longthorn” Tyrell may have been playing a Tywin/Lord Walder wait-and-see who gains the upper hand approach…

House Webber’s was loyal per The Sworn Sword. House Rowan is seen to be on excellent terms with the throne during the same time period.

House Ashford hosted the tourney seen in the Hedge Knight. It is unlikely house so recently in rebellion would’ve had so many Targaryen Princes appear, especially as they seemed on very good terms with Lord Ashford.

For Daemon Blackfyre:

Peake

Ball

Strickland

Costayne

Ambrose

Osgrey

Vyrwel

Bulwer

Cockshaw

Risley

Cuy

Tarly

Here’s the best example of ambitious types we spoke of in Daemon’s episode: House Peake. They have a long history of aiming high, most notably during the Dance of the Dragons. They’re the ones who snagged the Manderly castle after encouraging the King of the Reach to drive them out. Lord Gormon seems to be cut from the same cloth. He commanded the Rebel center during the Battle of Redgrass field and personally slew Hand of the King Lord Hayford in the process. Lord Gormon lost two of his ancestral castles, leaving him with Starpike.

A descendant of his rebelled and slew King Maekar after the King put Starpike under siege.

Some of these houses may not sound familiar, or formidable, but that might be because they were on the losing side. Losers get punished, so some of these names may have loomed quite a bit larger a century ago. Some of the houses listed there aimed to fight for Daemon II in the Second Rebellion, making it likely but not certain that they also fought for Daemon I.

House Ball is Fireball’s house. House Ambrose saw the famous knight Ser Aubrey Ambrose pledge to Daemon Blackfyre. Young Lord Alyn Cockshaw was a close confidant (and probable lover) of Daemon II, and knew all of Daemon’s sons as a child, as they grew up together. House Osgrey of course, is our main source of information for the Battle of Redgrass Field.

House Vyrwel may have been playing double agent in the Second Rebellion. There is some evidence that they were working with Bloodraven. This may have been an attempt to get back into the good graces of the Iron Throne.

House Tarly, as a marcher house, would be likely to fight for Daemon Blackfyre to stop the Dornish encroachment.

Also:

Hightower

Oakheart

Both of these notable houses supported both sides in unknown fashion.

Notable Unknown:

Beesbury

Florent

Fossoway

Shield Islands houses

Merryweather

Redwyne

Roxton

Serry

Often, houses follow the lead of their primary overlord. House Beesbury is vassal to Hightower, but the Hightowers played both sides.

House Florent has long sought to claim Highgarden, we hear of it in ASOIAF in current times even. This would’ve seemed like a golden opportunity to become Lords Paramount of the Reach. A perfect example of a “second best tier” house trying to move up, as discussed in the podcast.

The Shield Islands houses, like the Farmans of the West, may have been too concerned with the Ironborn to play a major role.

House Fossoway had not yet split into the Green and Red apple branches, but a Ser Derek “the Bad Apple” Fossoway was one of the Band of Nine along with Maelys the Monstrous. Perhaps the connection to the Blackfyres goes back to the First Rebellion.

Crownlands

For King Daeron II:

House Darklyn of Duskendale is noted for it’s historic loyalty, putting *seven* knights into the Kingsguard over the years. This truth is obscured by the more recent Defiance of Duskendale.

There’s a chance House Velaryon fought for Daemon Blackfyre. Daemon’s grandmother Daenaera would have only the barest relation to Daeron II. Though Oakenfist (d171-176) was the one who arranged Viserys’ release from Lys, that may not matter. Oakenfist was also Daeron I’s admiral, and his own descendants may have preferred to back the man who didn’t make peace with Daeron I’s murderers. Aegon IV arguably tried to have Oakenfist killed by repeatedly sending him on dangerous missions. Eventually, it worked.Hayford

The Crownlands are sworn to the Iron Throne, thus this region would be mostly or near-entirely for Daeron II. But this is not 100% certain.

Lord Hayford became Hand of the King during the war, and was stalwart. Yet apart from Hayford, we hear of the Crownlanders not at all on the Redgrass Field…

Aziz is joined by returning guest Steven Attewell (of Race for the Iron Throne) to discuss the legendary Daemon Blackfyre. The man, the myth, the sword, the rivalries, the immense popularity. Comparisons to Robert and Renly Baratheon, Aemon the Dragonknight and more are included. The most Daemon-tastic episode of all time!

“Raised at the Red Keep, this handsome youth was given the instruction of the wisest maesters and the best masters-at-arms at court, including Ser Quentyn Ball, the fiery knight called Fireball. He loved nothing better than deeds of arms and excelled at them, and many saw in him a warrior who would one day be another Dragonknight.”

“Daeron was spindly and round of shoulder, with a little belly that wobbled when he walked. Daemon stood straight and proud, and his stomach was flat and hard as an oaken shield. And he could fight. With ax or lance or flail, he was as good as any knight I ever saw, but with the sword he was the Warrior himself. When Prince Daemon had Blackfyre in his hand, there was not a man to equal him . . . not Ulrick Dayne with Dawn, no, nor even the Dragonknight with Dark Sister.”

Daemon was the name Daena gave to this child, for Prince Daemon had been the wonder and the terror of his age, and in later days that was seen as a warning of what the boy would become. Daemon Waters was his full name when he was born in 170 AC.”

“Knights and lords of the Dornish Marches came to mistrust Daeron, and Baelor as well, and began to look more and more to the old days, when Dornishmen were the enemy to fight, not rivals for the king’s attention or largesse. And then they would look at Daemon Blackfyre—grown tall and powerful, half a god among mortal men, and with the Conqueror’s sword in his possession—and wonder.”

“[Daena] even contrived, toward the end of Baelor’s reign, to get herself with child—though some might say it would have been better had she been less defiant, for all the trouble that son brought to the realm.”

“There was no final insult, no great wrong, that led Daemon Blackfyre to turn against King Daeron.”

“Why, lad? You ask me why? Because Daemon was the better man. The old king saw it, too. He gave the sword to Daemon. Blackfyre, the sword of Aegon the Conquerer, the blade that every Targaryen king had wielded since the Conquest . . . he put that sword in Daemon’s hand the day he knighted him, a boy of twelve.”

The son of Aegon the Unworthy had a lot to deal with after his father’s deathbed decree. Guest Steven Attewell of Race for the Iron Throne joins Aziz in discussing Daeron II, and whether or not he actually deserved to be called “the Good”. Special attention paid to the Great Bastards, Baelor Breakspear, and Dorne.

“Daeron’s reign quickly stabilized the realm, and he soon came to be called Daeron the Good by the smallfolk and noble lords alike. He was widely seen as just and goodhearted, even if some questioned the influence of his Dornish wife. And though he was no warrior—descriptions of the era note that he was small of frame, with thin arms, round shoulders, and a scholarly disposition—two of his four sons seemed all that could be wished in a knight, lord, or heir. Yet too many men looked upon Baelor’s dark hair and eyes and muttered that he was more Martell than Targaryen, even though he proved a man who could win respect with ease and was as open-handed and just as his father. Knights and lords of the Dornish Marches came to mistrust Daeron, and Baelor as well… And then they would look at Daemon Blackfyre—grown tall and powerful, half a god among mortal men, and with the Conqueror’s sword in his possession—and wonder.”

He chose to be crowned with his father’s crown—a decision likely intended to quell any remaining doubts about his legitimacy.”

“The line of the dragonkings had almost died out during his father’s day, but it was commonly said that Daeron II and his sons had left it secure for all time.”

“The eldest, Prince Baelor, won the name Breakspear at the age of seventeen, following his famous victory at Princess Daenerys’s wedding tourney; he defeated Daemon Blackfyre in the final tilt. And his youngest son, Prince Maekar, seemed like to show a similar prowess.”

“Aegon and Prince Daeron were quarreling over the king’s plans to launch an unprovoked war against Dorne. It was also the first (but not the last) time that Aegon threatened to name one of his bastards as his heir instead of Daeron.”

“He was conscientious in his duties to the realm and sought to stabilize it in the wake of Aegon’s deathbed decree.”

This episode covers the life of Aegon IV the Unworthy, the man who fathered the Blackfyre Rebellions. A King who used the Iron Throne to serve his needs, caring little for the realm. He made life miserable for his sister Naerys and brother Aemon the Dragonknight while siring Bittersteel, Bloodraven, Shiera Seastar and Daemon Blackfyre himself.

“Aegon the Fourth legitimized all his bastards on his deathbed. And how much pain, grief, war, and murder grew from that? I know you trust Jon. But can you trust his sons? Or their sons? The Blackfyre pretenders troubled the Targaryens for five generations, until Barristan the Bold slew the last of them on the Stepstones.”

“…no king before or after would practice so much willful misrule.”

“Treason . . . is only a word. When two princes fight for a chair where only one may sit, great lords and common men alike must choose. And when the battle’s done, the victors will be hailed as loyal men and true, whilst those who were defeated will be known forevermore as rebels and traitors.”

He was the son of a common blacksmith and had been given to the Faith while young. But his brilliance made itself known, and in time he came to serve in the library at the Red Keep, tending the king’s books and records. There King Jaehaerys became acquainted with him”

“…his body so swollen and obese that he could no longer lift himself from his couch, his limbs rotting and crawling with fleshworms. The maesters claimed they had never seen its like, whilst septons declared it a judgment of the gods. Aegon was given milk of the poppy to dull his pain, but elsewise little could be done for him.”

“His last act before his death, all accounts agree, was to set out his will. And in it, he left the bitterest poison the realm ever knew: he legitimized all of his natural children, from the most baseborn to the Great Bastards—the sons and daughters born to him by women of noble birth. Scores of his natural children had never been acknowledged; Aegon’s dying declaration meant nought to them. For his acknowledged bastards, however, it meant a great deal. And for the realm, it meant blood and fire for five generations.”

Learn more about famous Kingsguard members like Prince Aemon the Dragonknight, Barristan the Bold, and Ser Arthur Dayne. There are no spoilers past A Storm of Swords.

Some had been heroes, some weaklings, knaves, or cravens. Most were only men.

There are some technical difficulties in this episode that are edited out of the audio version. Please listen to that for a better experience, or go ahead and laugh at the video when one of us forgets to unmute our mic!

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